Fri, 8 Jun 2012

The Armed Forces are signing up new recruits who need to improve numeracy and literacy skills to intensive courses in those areas, with the aim of improving their long-term career prospects.

This is according to the Armed Forces Longitudinal Study, commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It also notes that using minimum literacy and numeracy standards as a criterion for promotion to specific ranks contributes to the success of this drive.

However, it also notes wide variation in the scale of literacy and numeracy needs between the services.

Skills Minister John Hayes says: “The Armed Forces are playing a vital social and economic role in ensuring that their personnel have the skills to perform their operational roles more effectively and are more employable when they leave the forces.

“I hope the services’ dedication to boost skills among new recruits serves as an inspiration to other employers.”